Rugby: Dubai Sevens Day One Results

The first IRB Sevens tournament of the season is underway, and for the United States, things could not have gotten off to a worse start. The American team had high expectations for the 2009-2010 season, and they came out the box with a tough task taking on England.

The English took the Eagles to the woodshed, thrashing them 40-12.

The day did not get any easier when the Eagles faced perennial sevens powerhouse Kenya. The Eagles would bounce back from their early morning thrashing, but the Kenyans once again proved to be too strong and they beat the Americans 26-21.

The final game of the day saw the Russians and USA Eagles matching up for third place in the pool. This game could prove to be a preview of many great games between these countries with a spot in the Olympics on the line. The Russian team is a great group and they played a great game against the Eagles, knocking them off 14-12 thanks to a last-minute score from Igor Galinovskiy.

Three losses, and no wins, is not what Al Caravelli or the Eagles had in mind. There is no doubt the Americans will have to regroup and come out with a different game plan if they want to improve their rankings and secure a spot in the 2016 Olympics.

There's enough talent in the current player pool to turn things around, now it's just a matter of putting it all together. On a lighter note, take a look at the highlight of the day from Day One at the Dubai Sevens.